LITTLE (GRRL) LOST

by Charles de Lint

978-0-670-06144-0

268pp/$17.99/September 2007

Charles de Lint's adolescent novel Little (Grrl)
Lost focuses on the relationship between two girls, T.J. and
Elizabeth, who, despite appearing very different have more in common than
either would like to admit. Although not obviously set in de Lint's
mythical Newford, the setting and story have a similar feel to those
tales.

T.J. has recently moved to the city from her family's
country home when her parents suffer a financial set-back. Separated from
her friends and her horse, Red, T.J. feels even more alienated than she
otherwise would have, especially since her older brother, Derek, seems to
have found a place at their school so easily. Her world, already
turned upside down, is further shaken when she hears a strange noise
coming from the walls of her room and an eight-inch tall girl appears in
her room.

Elizabeth is a Little, a race similar to the Mary
Norton's "borrowers." Like T.J., Elizabeth is feeling stifled by
her parents and the situation inflicted on her by her diminutive size in a
world created by and for "bigs." However, while T.J. is a
relatively innocent 14 year old, Elizabeth is a much more cynical
seventeen. This difference of world views results in a strained
relationship between the girls that can't be called friendship.

When T.J. discovers Elizabeth's existence, however,
she becomes interested in the world of the Littles. Her discovery
that a local author, Sheri Piper, has written some books about the Littles
spurs her on and results in the two girls attempting to contact the
author. Their outing does not go according to plan and they get
separated before meeting Piper and finding out what Piper really knows
about the Littles.

Once separated, de Lint alternates chapters between
the two girls, often leaving off a chapter as a cliff-hanger. While
this works reasonably well, the length of the chapters tends to work
against the technique since the dangerous situation T.J. finds herself in
at the end of chapter 2 on page 81 doesn't get resolved until chapter four
on page 160. Similarly, while T.J.'s character is more likable than
Elizabeth's, the book's charm tends to reflect whichever character is the
protagonist of a given chapter.

Even though the girls are apart for much of the book,
with T.J. looking at the world through the eyes of a naive and trusting
fourteen year old, despite some of the situations she gets herself into,
and Elizabeth using her cynicism to provide a tour of the demimonde of
fairies and goblins, the girls are both able to grow and take on
characteristics learned from the other.

Little (Grrl) Lost does an excellent job of
capturing the feeling of isolation and detachment so many find in their
teenage year. Coupled with the sense of security and ability which
is not necessarily grounded in reality (but which are quite common at that
age), de Lint's representation of teenagers is well done. His world
is dangerous, but not dark and gives his characters room to grow from
their initial representations.